Georgians Protected by Guns Even When They Eat

Georgian gun owners can feel more at ease as Gov. Sonny Perdue signed a bill on Wednesday which states that they are allowed to take their concealed guns in the park, at the restaurant, on the bus or other means of public transportation. Almost like a pet.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Perdue said that about 300,000 Georgia residents who have permits for a gun would be allowed to carry it with them.

The National Rifle Association not only agrees with this measure but says that this could be “the most comprehensive pro-gun reform measure” over the last 20 years.

Although many groups like The Georgia Restaurant Association, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and also Atlanta’s Mayor Shirley Franklin opposed the law, Perdue signed it without hesitation.

Alice Johnson, a Georgia lobbyist for Gun Safety said that, while other states have a more strict policy on getting a gun permit, asking their residence to take firearms training, Georgia simply performs a background check for felonies.

The law allows restaurants patrons to carry a gun but only if they don’t drink while doing so. Also, restaurants that don’t make more than half their revenue from alcohol sales can decide for themselves if they would allow people with guns.

The law goes into effect July 1 and this is the most significant since the Virginia Tech. shootings.

Georgia was one of only 13 states to ban guns in restaurants serving alcohol. The bill's sponsor, state Rep. Tim Bearden who is also a former police officer, said about this law that it is “the biggest gun reform bill in Georgia history,” as Houston Chronicle reported